I am an H1N1 survivor. This fall I missed a few days of school, curled up at home feeling like a piece of achy bacon slowly and painfully frying, but recovered fully within a week or two.  You all probably know someone like me and think, “Oh, so-and-so had the virus and is just fine; I’m sure I will be too.”

So far, an estimated 30 percent of Wisconsin residents have already been infected by the incredibly contagious H1N1 virus, and current rates of vaccination are between 17 and 20 percent in Eau Claire, Dunn, and Chippewa Counties.  That leaves half of the general population still susceptible to getting sick in the expected next wave of the flu outbreak.

I’m picturing the zombie apocalypse while I write this, and though I’ll admit H1N1 is not quite that bad, it’s certainly not something you want to have.  Common symptoms include cough, sore throat, fever, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, among other nasty things. 

These sound uncomfortable but manageable, right?  In most cases, you’ll live to tell the tale, but H1N1 is quite dangerous to those with asthma, chronic lung and heart diseases, diabetes, and other heath issues.  People with these conditions will need to seek medical care right away if they contract the H1N1 virus.

You may not be affected by any of these health problems, but that’s no reason not to be vaccinated.  If you don’t catch it, you can’t pass it on to someone who is at risk of complications due to their underlying health conditions.  Which is awfully nice of you, don’t you think?

Getting the vaccination isn’t even a hassle.  Go to a clinic, or to your local Health Department where adults only need to get one shot, pay nothing, and get out.  Quick and convenient, safe and smart.  Preventing the spread of the H1N1 virus is a lot easier than you think.  You’ll be glad you got vaccinated, and so will all the people you’re not going to infect.

Chippewa County Department of Public Health:  715-726-7900 
Dunn County Health Department:  715-232-2388
Eau Claire City-County Health Department: 715-839-4718